Representative props Petero Civoniceva and Ben Hannant believe Brisbane is on the verge of an exciting new era with NRL stars of tomorrow emerging thick and fast.
Friday night’s 28-20 win over St George Illawarra came on the back of last week’s gritty and emotional comeback victory against South Sydney in Perth, which claimed young winger Jharal Yow Yeh to a season-ending leg injury.
The Broncos strong start to the year has largely erased fears they could struggle without champion playmaker Darren Lockyer at the helm.
Civoniceva, who declared it was great to be back in Broncos colours, said Brisbane’s future was as good as he’d ever seen it.
He credited coach Anthony Griffin for developing the exciting young talent and putting Brisbane on the brink of yet another era of success.
“What Hook (Griffin) has done in grooming these boys; the level of maturity they show as a young group has been pretty awesome really,” said Civoniceva who has won premierships, Origins and Tests since making his debut in 1998.
Brisbane fielded 10 players aged 23 and under against the Dragons, the youngest being 20-year-old winger Dale Copley, who has already played 24 NRL games.
Civoniceva said many of them would be the Broncos’ stars of the future and players fans would talk about in years to come.
“I was very much part of a great culture here before I left,” he told AAP.
“For me to walk back through the door and see the Bronco culture alive and as strong as ever with an entirely new group is very pleasing.
“A lot of credit has to go to Hook for what he’s instilled into this group.
“There’s a long way to go, a long way to go, and there’s still of a lot of improvement in the group. But the signs are there that there’s a strong belief and a hunger and desire that you have to have to win premierships.”
Hannant, sporting a chin full of stitches after Friday’s win, backed Civoniceva’s prediction about the club’s future.
“You look at the age group, it’s a new era at the Broncos, all the older guys are moving on,” he said.
“Now the fans have got all these new names to look at, the Hoffmans, Copleys, the Corey Normans, Yow Yeh, Alex Glenn, Hunt, the names just keep coming.
“I urge people to get on board because this is a great team going forward, not just this year, but for many years to come.”
